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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Nov 2017
    Location
    Geelong, Australia
    Age
    57
    Posts
    2,651

    Default Any forklift mechanics here?

    Or anyone familiar with them - particularly older ones?

    Trying to breathe another life into an old TCM FG18 that has the Nissan (think it’s H series) engine and auto trans.

    I haven’t been able to find a workshop manual yet, so I’m winging it for now.

    First question is about the fluid level in the trans. It doesn’t drive, but feels like it wants to and was apparently perfect before it was parked up about 3 years ago.
    Yeah - know what you’re thinking!!
    After turning the engine off there’s a lot of gurgling from around the trans, and my gut feel is that it’s probably just low on oil.
    There’s oil on the dipstick when it’s not running, but I’m thinking it might need to be checked while it’s running.
    By the same token I don’t want to screw up a good trans by overfilling if that’s not the case.

    Any help appreciated.

    Here’s a photo of the trans in case anyone recognises it.
    Pretty sure the 2 electric lumps are just position switches for reverse lights and beeper but haven’t checked them out to confirm.



    And a couple for context.






    Steve

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Aug 2015
    Location
    QLD
    Posts
    735

    Default

    In machinery, sometimes things don’t change for years so a current model may have the same gearbox.

    Try Lencrow forklifts...

    “...Nissan Forklift branding has been discontinued and now operates under the name UniCarriers; an umbrella forklift company that manufactures UniCarriers, TCM and Atlet products...”




    .

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Jun 2007
    Location
    Ipswich QLD
    Age
    68
    Posts
    1,996

    Default

    Auto trans should be checked while running in park or nutral choked wheels, do not do this on your own tho bump the gear and it can be disaster.

    After standing so long best to drain all oils and replace. Check hydraulic hoses also for signs of leaks, to soft can mean they will blow ubder pressure.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Nov 2017
    Location
    Geelong, Australia
    Age
    57
    Posts
    2,651

    Default

    Thanks for that
    Already have the main lift hose and side shift hoses removed to get new ones made.
    No leaks but they were definitely sun damaged where they run over the top pulley.

    Will definitely change the oils etc as soon as I get it basically operational. Always a debate whether it’s better to do it before first running, but in this case I knew it had been started recently so everything has been stirred up already. I’ve also been caught in the past with changing oil then realizing a sump or other component has to come off to fix something - and you dump a few liters of brand new oil!!

    I really need to find a manual for the old girl to save the guesswork with oil types/grades etc.

    Steve

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Mar 2014
    Location
    South of Adelaide
    Posts
    1,225

    Default

    All the major oil company's have really good lube guides on their websites, And sometimes for industrial equipment it will tell you what engine something has. For your forklift:
    engine Nissan A15,
    Crankcase: Mono 30 4.2L
    transaxle: HP GEAR OIL 80W-90
    Transmission: PREMIUM MONO 10W

    Check transmission oil with engine running

    Check the left hand pedal (inching) isn't stuck down or the linkage to the trans isn't stuck.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Nov 2017
    Location
    Geelong, Australia
    Age
    57
    Posts
    2,651

    Default Any forklift mechanics here?

    Thanks Snapatap. I've always jumped on the Penrite lube guide for vehicles, but hadn't even thought about it for the forklift.

    Just checked it now and its the first place online I've actually seen the full model number listed AT ALL!

    And a bit of trivia (I'm probably the only person on the planet who didn't already know), but the datatec.com.au lube guide website actually covers all the main oil companies eg:
    Mobil https://www.datateck.com.au/Lube/mobil_au/
    Shell https://www.datateck.com.au/Lube/ShellAU/?if=1
    Penrite https://www.datateck.com.au/Lube/PenriteAus/

    The inching pedal seems to operate smoothly and you can see it moving the selector rod on the side of the trans.

    I had a gas bottle delivered yesterday, and the new gas hose and coupling arrived today (to replace the bodged up BBQ hose that was on there). So far I've only had the engine running on a can of engine start, but it ran very nicely.
    Needs another coat of paint and the hydraulic hoses refitted before get it running proper.
    Gave it run over with a wire wheel on the grinder, then a coat of Penetrol to seal all the surface rust up and give a good bond to the old paint, and today rolled on a coat of "Golden Yellow" Rust Guard epoxy enamel.




    Steve

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Feb 2009
    Location
    jilliby nsw
    Age
    71
    Posts
    111

    Default

    G'day Steve, I got one of those machines, did the same bought it real cheap and rebuilt it. Can still get parts for them. I changed all the filters, I think each system has its own filter. Anyhow if you got any issues, I probably have sorted them out on my machine. Mine is gas only, petrol tank rusted out b4 I got it. Seems to start ok however sometimes I need to fiddle with the gas converter to get it to start. Have fun with it, they are a good machine but the traction up hill on gravel needs to be attacked in reverse lol. cheers Ian

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Nov 2017
    Location
    Geelong, Australia
    Age
    57
    Posts
    2,651

    Default

    Thanks Ian. Good to know someone else still has a live one!!
    Good tip on the uphill gravel, but probably won't be an issue here. The steepest slope I've got is the one the machine is sitting on now.
    I haven't checked inside the petrol tank on mine, but there's definitely no petrol hoses going to the carb. I think its a gas-only machine for now.

    Steve

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Feb 2009
    Location
    jilliby nsw
    Age
    71
    Posts
    111

    Default

    Heres a free A1 & A15 engine manual with all the maintenance schedule and specs. May be of interest to you. Only covers petrol but as far as Im aware there is no manual adjustment for the gas. Mine also has an electronic distributor in it so no points yay. The other thing I notice is that performance of transmission & hydraulics is poor until the engine and oils warm up to operating temp. Pretty sure mine is an A12 engine

    http://manuals.minutemanintl.net/Pow...AN_A12_A15.pdf

    Hope its useful for you cheers Ian

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Nov 2017
    Location
    Geelong, Australia
    Age
    57
    Posts
    2,651

    Default

    Thanks Ian - will definitely be useful.
    Haven't even pulled the cap off the distributor on mine yet, but looks pretty non-electronic from the outside.
    Was hoping to get another coat of paint on it yesterday but the weather had other ideas and rained on it.
    Hopefully picking up the new hoses tomorrow so should be able to have a decent crack at it over the weekend.

    Steve

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Apr 2012
    Location
    Healesville
    Posts
    2,129

    Default

    Hey nice one steve.... no shed should be without a fork.
    Mine sat for 15 yrs, it was hidden from the world amongst a large patch of rubus fruiticosus.

  12. #12
    Join Date
    Nov 2017
    Location
    Geelong, Australia
    Age
    57
    Posts
    2,651

    Default

    Thanks Shed.
    If I had my way I'd have had one a couple of years back but the times I brought the subject up it was a flat "no - what the hell do you need a forklift for" from the financial controller.
    Gotta pick your battles, and she finally conceded to the little (converted construction dumper) yard crane as it could also be used for moving large stuff around the garden etc.
    Crane has definitely been great and beats the hell out of wheeling things across the gravel on sheets of whatever you can find with the engine crane, but it literally takes an hour or more to do what I know would be a 5-10min job with a fork. The slings are never the right length, and there's often not enough travel in the boom to unload off the ute and put directly on the ground - typically by about 20mm more than the thickest bit of timber you've got handy.

    After multiple sessions of "darling can you just steady this while I move/re-sling/pack/push XYZ" - some of them being more than a bit dodgy - all I got when I said I'd decided to get a fork and sell the yard crane was a simple "OK".
    And then got chastised slightly for buying a project rather than a fully functional one!!
    I think I can live with that though

    The other good thing is that she can actually drive one and even has a legit license.

    Steve

  13. #13
    Join Date
    Apr 2012
    Location
    Healesville
    Posts
    2,129

    Default

    Mine is an old Yale and it cannot go off the conka, but it is still a very handy tool..
    This how i get out the door...dont tell work care
    Attached Images Attached Images

  14. #14
    Join Date
    May 2011
    Location
    Murray Bridge S Aust.
    Age
    71
    Posts
    5,942

    Default

    Found this online if it helps?
    https://procarmanuals.com/pdf-online...ervice-manual/
    Kryn
    To grow old is mandatory, growing up is optional.

  15. #15
    Join Date
    Nov 2017
    Location
    Geelong, Australia
    Age
    57
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    2,651

    Default

    After a bit of scratching around today I finally found a fitting the correct size to connect the new gas hose up to the converter.
    It runs really nicely, so let it idle for a minute or so and then checked the trans fluid level - it was fine.

    Still not moving when the inching pedal is all the way out though
    With the gear selector in fwd or reverse and the inching pedal depressed, the trans is silent. When you let your foot off the pedal there's a slight rotating shaft/bearing sound. Push the pedal in again and the sound stops.
    The engine doesn't load up at all, and the machine rolls freely when in neutral so its not like there's something jammed or a stuck brake etc.

    Any ideas?

    Steve

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